Islamic Reform in the Domain of Worship

Islam came at a time when there were many forms of

worship in the world. Some of these were remnants of the
previous divinely revealed ******ures. Others were
completely man-made. Even those acts of worship that were
of divine origin had been corrupted, altered, and removed
.from their proper con****s

Some religions exaggerated the importance of formalism

and mindless ritual. Others went to extremes to free
themselves of all notions of form and order. Some religions
went to extremes that made worship a harmful and painful
thing. Some of them also demanded monasticism from their
adherents. Other religions went to extremes in indulgence,
often completely abandoning religious obligations
.altogether

Islam came to correct and reform these excessive tendencies,

while establishing principles of its own. It provided
principles to bring about reform and to safeguard worship.
:The most important of these principles are as follows

:No one deserves to be worshipped except for Allah .1

The first thing that Islam came with was the concept of
monotheism. Bearing witness to monotheism is how a
person enters into the fold of Islam and is considered to be a
:believer. The testimony is as follows

There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the Messenger of“

”.Allah

These words are a testimony that there is no one worthy of

 worship except for Allah. In this way, Islam negates every
possible manifestation of polytheism. The following are
some of the ways that Islam safeguards the idea of
:monotheism

A. Islam makes polytheism a cause of negating the effects of

good works and as a way of leaving the fold of Islam. Allah
addresses His Messenger (may the peace and blessings of
:Allah be upon him) with the following words

It has been revealed to you and to those who came before“

you: If you commit polytheism, your deeds will be naught
”.and you will be among the losers

B. Islam closes all the doors to polytheism. It pays careful

attention to all the ways polytheism can be prevented.
:Among these are the following

The Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be -

upon him) prohibited the people from honoring him
excessively, because this could lead to excessiveness in
belief. He made it clear that he was merely a slave of Allah
and His Messenger. He said: “Do not praise me excessively
the way that the Christians praised `Isâ (Jesus) the son of
Maryam (Mary). I am only Allah’s slave and Messenger so
”.say that I am His slave and Messenger

He prohibited people from seeking assistance through him -

or through the agency of any other righteous person. It has
been related that one of the hypocrites used to abuse the
believers, so some of the believers suggested that they
collectively seek help from that Hypocrite by means of
Allah’s Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him). The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) said: “None should seek help through
 ”.me. Help should be sought from Allah alone

C. The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be

upon him) prohibited people from turning gravesites into
places of worship. He strongly warned against this practice.
Near the time of his death, he repeatedly mentioned this
prohibition. He would say: “Allah’s wrath became severe
towards those people who turned the graves of their prophets
”.into places of worship

D. The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be

upon him) prohibited people from taking oaths in other than
Allah’s name, because an oath implies the aggrandizement
of the one in whose name it is taken. The Prophet (may the
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever
takes an oath in other than Allah’s name has fallen into
”.polytheism

E. The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be

upon him) prohibited people from performing sacrifices to
other than Allah. He said: “Allah has cursed those who offer
.sacrifices to other than Allah